In this unique area, mountains are spread over an area of ​​several tens of square kilometers. The lowest mountain has a height of about 2,400 meters, and average values ​​are approximately 4,000 meters. Among the vast number of peaks of this mountainous region, the real giant is Chimborazo, covered with eternal ice, falling to marks of 4,600 meters.
This is where this Chimborazo volcano is located and what it is.
Location
Chimborazo is part of the Cordillera Occidental (ridge) in the Andes. What country does it belong to? Chimborazo Volcano is located in Ecuador, 150 kilometers from its capital - Quito. It belongs to andesite-dacite stratovolcanoes.
It is clearly visible in sunny, clear weather, even from the city of Guayaquil, located in the coastal zone (distance of about 140 km). The city of Riobamba is located 30 kilometers southeast of the volcano. The cities of Ambato and Guarand from Chimboraso are respectively 30 kilometers to the northeast and 25 kilometers to the west.
Description of the region
Almost always, the peak of the Chimborazo volcano rises above the level of clouds, due to which tourists enjoy a wonderful and unforgettable sight when flying on an airliner. Once Chimborazo was a violent volcano, but over time it subsided, and its peak began to represent an ice point.
For the inhabitants of this region (the provinces of Bolivar and Chimborazo), the main water resource is melt water. Due to global warming and ongoing processes inside the volcano, the size of the glacier has decreased significantly. In addition, ice is mined here for sale in the domestic markets of the country (for cooling), since the climatic conditions here are too hot for human life.
This volcano was quiet for a long time: its last eruption happened 2-3 thousand years ago. By European standards, he is incredibly high. The height of the Chimborazo volcano is 6,384 m.
At its very foot, the Guayas River originates.
It is interesting
Chomolungma is believed to be the highest place on earth. If the height of the mountain is taken from the base to the very top, then the highest peaks can be called McKinley and Ararat. And if we take into account the underground (or underwater) part of the mountain, then the highest one can be called the Mauna Kea mountain peak, located at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Only its peak is visible on the water surface.
There is another interesting point. If the height of the mountain is calculated not from the earth's surface or from the sea level, and not even from the bottom of the sea, but from the center of the planet, then the mark in Ecuador can be taken as the highest point on the planet Earth. This is Chimborazo volcano.
This volcano has become the farthest point from the center of the Earth due to its favorable geographical location.
origin of name
According to scientists, there is more than one version of the origin of the name of the volcano. From some dialects of the Quechua language, chimba is translated as “across the river,” and razu is translated as “ice” or “snow”.
According to local residents, the word chimbarazu translates as "snow on the other side." There is another version according to which the name of the volcano occurred by the addition of two words: schingbu from Chapalachsky - “woman” and razo from Kechuan - “ice, snow”. When these words are combined, the result is “snow woman” or “ice woman”.
There are other versions explaining the origin of the name of the mountain.
About ascents to the top of Chimboraso volcano
In those days, when this majestic giant was considered the highest peak of the planet, many scientists and travelers tried to make ascents. In 1802, Baron Alexander von Humbold broke all European records. He reached the mark of 5,875 meters. After Chimborazo lost his champion status, dreamers continued to come to these places to conquer this peak.
An interesting fact is that until 1880 no one suspected that this mountain was a volcano. Climber from England, Edward Wimper, it was in this year that he reached the top of Chimboraso.
Route for tourists
The starting point for the classic climb is the Karela hut, located at 4,600 meters. A jeep brings tourists to this place, and then climb up to the mark of 5,000 meters, where the Vamper’s hut is located. From this point at midnight climbers head to another point - Weintemille, located at an altitude of 6,270 meters. Experienced climbers believe that it should be no later than 6 a.m., as the snow crust later melts. And they usually come back no later than 10 a.m., since then there is the likelihood of avalanches and stones coming down.
Everyone knows that the volcano is not active today, but travelers may expect other troubles. For example, part of the slope to the saddle of El Castillo is quite steep, so unexpected rockfalls often occur here. There are also areas where there is a risk of falling into the abyss when climbing after 8 in the morning.
In conclusion, some features of Chimboraso
To complete our story, here are some interesting additions:
- According to some climbers, when you are on the side of a volcano, you can hear how some processes are happening inside it. However, this is highly doubtful.
- The features of the Chimborazo volcano include the absence of season changes on its slopes. This means that the temperature in this area always remains unchanged. In this regard, the peak can be conquered at any time of the year, but tourists often come here in the fall and winter.
- A characteristic feature of the volcano is its surface is completely covered with snow. Under its cover is a centuries-old layer of ice.